The former England under-21 striker claims he had been robbed minutes before he was arrested in Bloomsbury, central LondonCredit: Getty - Contributor

The 25-year-old was found by cops at the side of the road near VQ restaurant at around 3am on February 18, Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court was told.

He was arrested and told cops "this is bulls***" after they cuffed him when he was trying to flee the gang.

The footballer denied drink-driving in February, with his barrister saying the issue was whether he had to drive to escape armed thugs who robbed him "minutes before."

Berahino told police he was robbed, while his girlfriend later said she believed her ex-boyfriend had arranged for him to be jumped and that his watch and two diamond necklaces were stolen, the court heard.

I was scared. I had just been attacked and obviously my niece was there, and I had to take action. I had to drive off from the scene. They had a knife and a gun as well

Saido Berahino

He told the court: "I just felt like I was targeted because I was a professional footballer and the guys knew who I was.

"I was scared. I had just been attacked and obviously my niece was there, and I had to take action. I had to drive off from the scene. They had a knife and a gun as well."

But Chair of the bench Mark Oxenham said the prosecution had not proved their case beyond reasonable doubt "that the defendant was not in fear of death or fear of serious injury to himself or his companions".

He added that Berahino's girlfriend had driven the car immediately beforehand and "could have continued the journey away from the scene".

He was today convicted of drink-driving and was disqualified from driving for 30 months and fined £75,000.

GUILTY

The Burundi-born striker, who started his career with West Bromwich Albion, was behind the wheel, while his girlfriend and another man and a woman were in the car, the court heard.

Berahino was asked about the fight through the driver's window and prosecutor Katie Weiss said he told officers: "We have just had a meal, we are just going back to the hotel, we haven't seen anything."

Pc Stephen Luu told the court: "His eyes appeared red and he appeared really nervous. Because of how he was acting, I then came out of the police car to speak to him or work out what had happened because I believed he was linked to the violent incident.

"As I got closer to him, I could actually smell alcohol on his breath.

"I did ask him if he had been drinking, and he replied, 'yes, just one'."

PC Luu said Berahino looked "confused" when he asked him about blood on his hand and realised his T-shirt was ripped when he told him to get out of the vehicle.

As I got closer to him, I could actually smell alcohol on his breath.

PC Stephen Luu

The prosecutor said: "He was arrested and replied to caution, 'This is bulls***', or words to that effect."

At the police station Berahino was found to be almost three times the drink-drive limit, with 103mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the court heard. The legal limit is 35mg.

Garry Green, defending, said: "The officer in the case details what he says occurs from three different cameras.

"They show this defendant being chased, falling to the ground and being attacked while on the ground.

"An officer said previously he could see knives on the CCTV.

"I have not had an opportunity to see if I can see that and whether we would want to have that footage enhanced.

"It clearly goes to the issue of his state of mind and whether he thought he should drive."

'ATTACKED BY ROBBERS'

Mr Green expressed frustration in court at only being given CCTV of the attack this morning, and asked for some time to watch the footage with the footballer, to find evidence of knives being used.

Mr Green said: "May I respectfully say it's a most unsatisfactory state of affairs.

"The issue in this case is whether or not this defendant had to drive his car as a necessity.

"The background of the necessity being - and it's accepted by the prosecution - that he was robbed some minutes before his vehicle was drive.

"There is no dispute he was robbed and that robbery is caught on CCTV."

Berahino was breathalysed at the scene and the reading showed that he had 103 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The drink-drive limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

MOST READ IN NEWS

Exclusive

RANDY ROYAL

Courtney Love claims Prince Andrew turned up at her house 'looking for sex'

Exclusive

HOUSE OF HORRORS

Mum’s hell at being raped weekly by husband in front of their children

BABY PANIC

'World's oldest mum', 74, in intensive care along with husband, 78, after birth

HOSPITAL THIEF

EU WON'T LIKE ME WHEN I'M ANGRY

Berahino, who was born in Burundi but received political asylum in Birmingham while still a child, was temporarily suspended by Stoke after the arrest.

His contract with the Championship club runs until 2022.

Berahino, of Cannock, Staffs, denied one count of drink-driving.

4

Saido Berahino denied drink-driving and is in court this week for trialCredit: Louis Wood - The Sun

4

The footballer denied drink-driving in February, with his barrister saying the issue was whether he had to drive to escape armed thugs who robbed himCredit: Getty - Contributor

Stoke City ace Saido Berahino swears outside court in March as he denies 3am 'drink-drive' rap before tearing off in his £150k Mercedes

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.